Tag Archives: water soluble

This pomade review is long overdue. Why? Not because I’ve had this pomade for some time, but because I’ve known about the brand for a while when my buddy Pete from Native Elements hipped me to them some time ago, but never acted on it. Well, after a couple of emails from Imperial, I’ve gotten their pomade and have put it to good use. So, let’s get the ball rollin’, shall we!

One thing that I dig and the likes of Nick Wooster must surely dig, is the packaging. Coming in a plastic container with a silver lid, the packaging is very minimal, yet catches your eye instantly. A clean white label with black letter, and bold red lettering to distinguish which product you’re buying, is clean and simple, and I dig it! Sometimes, you don’t need all of the glitz & glam that some pomade companies are using to make their products “noticeable.” (No brand in particular, nor in mind. ‘Just sayin’)

Aside from the minimalistic design of the packaging, they add sophisticated detail with a seal.

This little detail shows American quality and attention to detail in all of their products, and that’s something I can definitely appreciate…

… and couldn’t wait to break!

Being packaged in a clear jar, you already see what you get. A clear gel-type pomade. But… how does it smell?

Unlike most water-soluble pomades, Imperial went with a colorless gel-type product to match their minimal packaging. Had they gone with anything other than, it would bring a level of cheesy-ness to their products, which is not their goal. Sometimes, less is more, and while different colors are cool to see, it’s not always needed.

Accompanying the colorless pomade, is a subtle fruity scent that isn’t overbearing or makes you feel any less than a man. I know a lot of cats want that masculine scent to match their pomades and for whatever reason feel less than man when wearing something fruity or floral, but this stuff won’t do any of that except bring in the ladies! Trust me, with my previous experiences with Bath & Body Works lotions and girls, they don’t mind it one bit!

… ladies…

Scooping it out you find that this stuff is thicker than most. If that isn’t enough, there’s a “Hold Strength” stat indicator on the packaging, with the number 4 being the highest.

Running this pomade is great. It goes through completely dried hair perfectly and combs through just as well. Applying it through damp hair is no different. So if you’re one to apply pomade dry, definitely take this stuff into consideration!

Combing up a pomp is buttery smooth. Fine toothed combs run through effortlessly and I never had any streaks or glob patches give me any trouble. This pomade is malleable enough comb up anything from a tight combover to a big pomp. It works especially well with a blowdryer. So if you’ve picked up that trick from me, try it out with this stuff! But, I dig how easy it is to comb and set a pomp, take a look:

The hold will last you all day long. While it’s not entirely recombable, it still won’t flake on you if you do decide to recomb it without water. Like the rest of the water-soluble pomades, it’s best to recomb using water. But, if you like to recomb your pomps, why even go with water-soluble pomades? Something cats need to start considering from here on out! (Watch this be mentioned on every pomade review blog.)

Now, is this the strongest water-soluble pomade I’ve tried? No. As I mentioned, water-soluble pomades dry, which is pretty much the pre-determined hold. Is it one of the thickest ones out there? Yes. The thickness will help you comb a bigger pomp, but in the end, the hold will be determined when the product dries.

Overall, I’m definitely glad to have finally gotten some of this stuff! It’s definitely in the top 5 water-soluble brands out there. I only got their pomade, but they have a full range of products for y’all to try. If you like the feeling of combing thick water-soluble pomades and letting it set, and don’t like overbearing scents, this stuff is definitely worth looking into! But, if you like to recomb throughout the day, you just may need to reconsider the products you’re using.

Water-soluble pomades have got to be the most popular pomade on the market to date. I mean, there are brands popping out of the woodwork pumping out some cool pomade! But only so many have been able to make their pomades stand out from the rest, and one of those brands is the one and only Layrite. Being one of, if not, the first water-soluble pomade brand around, several brands race to achieve the popularity Layrite has amongst other products around.

One thing that Layrite fans wanted, was some shine. As we all know, most/all water-soluble pomades dry with a matte finish- for the most part. People have been asking me for ways to add shine to such water-soluble pomades. And well, Layrite heeds the call! They’ve kicked things up a notch, by releasing their newly developed Super Shine pomade.

This stuff comes packed in the same white plastic container as the other Layrite products. Using a deep wine red label with gold foil trim helps differentiate it from its Layrite brethren. Personally, I think the color is odd in comparison to the other two products, but since it is an entirely different product type- it gets a pass.

Opening it up, you see a pastel orange cream-type product. This throws off many cats, as they’re used to seeing a gel-type product. Well folks, let’s introduce you to something new!

Getting this stuff out of the container is not difficult whatsoever, you’ll find that this stuff feels like a cream-type pomade. The closest product I’d compare the product consistency to, is 360 Styles (with Layrite being much lighter.)

The only real downside this product has is the scent… For the most part, it is scentless. But, it has the smell of plastic, which I’m assuming is from the plastic container. From what I’ve heard from gossiping pomade enthusiasts, is that they’re working on developing a (new) scent for it. With the lack of a desirable scent/any scent, it has turned off a number of cats from using it on a daily basis. Hopefully we’ll see and smell something fresh in the near future!

Applying this stuff to your hair may be tricky. Due to the sticky texture of the product, you have to make sure your hair has the “right” amount of moisture in it, to ensure even distribution. Trust me, I’ve got stuck with a fat skidmark right down the center of my head, when I had too much water in my hair! I guess I could’ve passed it off as the bleach streak some cats rock?

Combing up a pomp with Layrite Super Shine can be tricky, especially if you’re used to how the original two products comb. Unlike most water-soluble pomades, this stuff combs just like a grease. No really, it does! One thing that attracted me to this stuff, was the ability to effortlessly shape a well-rounded pomp with it, without any tugging (giggity.) And since this stuff combs through like a grease, you won’t be left with flat shield pomps, that most water-soluble pomades leave you with if you don’t comb them right. Definitely something that I can dig!

The hold of this stuff is like a light medium-weight pomade. So don’t expect any crazy height like you’d get from their Super Hold pomade! But, you will have a greasy lookin’ pomp, without the worry of staining your ladies pillow cases or couch cushions, all while having a slick ‘do! Take a look…

This stuff will retain its hold throughout the day… for the most part. I found that if you try to slick through it dry, it’ll cause it to looks the slickness from the original styling, causing you to (pretty much) restyle your hair completely. For most cats, this isn’t a big deal, but for the rest of you– make sure you got your comb or brush near by a sink!

Overall, I gotta say I really dig this product. You all know how much I dig 360 Styles, and since this is like it’s completely water-soluble little brother, I’ve got no complaints whatsoever! It’s great for modest pomps and for when you want that greasy look, without actually having to go to that “greasy kid stuff.” For you cats looking to add some shine to your flat water-soluble pomades, or if you just want to retain that greasy look while you’re degreasing, this is definitely one to look into!

Now, this review is only for it as a standalone product. So stay tuned for the video, showing you how to use it as a top-coat, adding the nice greasy sheen to your Layrite Super Hold or Layrite Original pomade!

Big thanks again to Mike and the folks at Layrite. Hopefully, we’ll see a little somethin’ somethin’ between Layrite and The Rebel Rouser in the near future!

If you’ve used a water-soluble pomade for some time, you know how much money goes into the “investment.” So, it’s only expected to look for a cheaper alternative. And ever since the loss of the ever-so beloved Grease Monkey by Monkey Brains, people have been asking me for that “better” alternative. And by “better,” we’re obviously talking about price points. Well, I think we may have found the answer!

Tres Flores has been around for quite some time. I mean, I’m pretty sure everyone has been around that greasy stuff at some point. If anything, you know the scent, whether you’ve smelt it in your grandfathers hair or a barbershop. But, Tres Flores has a new product out, that many of you aren’t as familiar with. So, let me introduce you to the Tres Flores Molding Pomade, which may end up being your next go-to water-soluble pomade!

When you see this product, it comes in the ever-so iconic Tres Flores colorway: Green lid, yellow product, and red label. There’s no way you can confuse it with anything else! Like most water-soluble pomades, this stuff comes in a plastic container with a screw top lid.

Opening it up, you see a rich, golden gel-type pomade. This stuff is much more translucent than other water-soluble pomades I’ve used. For many, the scent from Tres Flores was too overpowering, but, it still left them with warm memories of their childhood. Fortunately, the Molding Pomade has a similar, but much more subtle scent. So if you enjoyed the scent of the original pomade, but hated how overpowering it was, this would definitely be one to check out!

Scooping it out, you’ll find that the consistency is softer than most water-soluble pomades on the market.

Rubbing this stuff into my palms started to show the type of pomade it was going to be. It literally melted in my palms, which to me, meant that there wouldn’t be too much of a hold. Automatically, I knew this was going to be the lightest water-soluble pomade I’ve ever tried.

Spreading this stuff evenly through my hair wasn’t a challenge. It’s so light, it’ll literally go through your hair like melted butter… not saying I know how melted butter goes through my hair…….

As I mentioned above, combing with this stuff is smooth. Don’t expect that good-ol’ tug-of-war with the hair and comb. It’s not that type of product! Since it combs so smoothly, it comes just as malleable as a medium weight grease, which is real nice! With some water-soluble pomades leaving me with squared off pomps, it was real nice to see something as light as this, be malleable enough to shape a rounded pomp, and strong enough to hold it!

Now, don’t expect any super-sized pomps with this stuff, as I said, it’s the lightest I’ve ever tried! But if you like medium to low profile pomps, with nice shape and form, this stuff will definitely do the trick. Take a look:

Unfortunately, I’m not entirely sure how readily available this stuff is. From what I’ve seen, stores have only had one to two containers, trying to see if their local demographic will take enough liking to it, before they make a full-fledged order of it. So, if you’ve come across Tres Flores in your local grocery store, check back to see if they’ll carry the Molding Pomade.

Overall, would I say this is a “better” alternative to Grease Monkey, price wise? No. Seeing as people have bought Grease Monkey for as cheap as $1 or at buy-1-get-1-free deals, it was really hard to beat that! Makes you wonder why they’re no longer in stock, right? But product type wise, yes, I’d say I find the Tres Flores Molding Pomade to be a better product. It styles just as well as a grease-type pomade, holds decently well, and for me , smells good. Seeing that this stuff is on average $8-10 dollars, it’s really up to you cats to see if it’s ‘worth it,’ seeing it’s only a few bucks less than the rockabilly-specific gel-type pomades. But, as I mentioned in the beginning, in the long-term investment, it may definitely be worth it!

Lone Star’s super-hold pomade has given me a lot of trouble… because the differences between the classic hold and super-hold are very subtle, and it was pretty damn difficult to figure out those differences! It was almost to the point where it’s unnoticeable to the “untrained” eye. But, that’s what I’m here to do, and hopefully, I did it.

Now, when I received the classic hold, I got it in a sample container, which didn’t have the actual labels. So after talking to Chris on the phone, I got a heads up on the details to the design of the actual product; all of which are very personal touches, which adds to the unique qualities to the products as a whole.

The container, very much like the sample, is very reminiscent of a baseball. White plastic container, red and blue accents with black lettering, it gives a good amount of color to the colorless product. A little bulldog on the container is in memory of a pet. Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture the image on my phone, but it’s there.

Just like the classic hold, it’s an uncolored product with the same classic scent. I found out that Chris pretty much owns the rights to the scent. So if you dig the scent and want to use it, you’ll have to go through him!

And just like the classic hold, it has the same gummy consistency. And again, it’s not a product you’ll be able to apply to dry hair. This is a product you’ll have to apply to wet hair, as slightly dampened hair will still cause a bit of trouble.

Inside the container, they’re virtually the same product. Even to the touch, they look and feel the same. But as soon as it gets in your hair, that’s when the differences start to show…

Being a “super-hold” product, you’d expect it to be a lot stiffer on the hair – to get a bit more tug here and there, ya know, the usual. But in actuality, it’s a lot “lighter” on the hair than the classic hold… if that makes sense. Between the two, I found that the classic hold is in the hair and more of a “super-hold”feel than this one. It may just be that the sample container compacted the product more-so, which made the ingredients react that way, I’m not 100% sure. But I think it may be somewhere along those lines.

Now, styling wise, they both still style like a petroleum-based product, which is awesome. I say this, because a majority of the water-soluble products out there usually leave your pomp blocky and flat. Where as with Lone Star, it’s much easier to get a rounded/bulbous pomp.

Another difference and to my surprise, this actually had more of a glossy finish than the classic hold. Take a look!

With Lone Star’s super-hold, I encountered something that I’ve never gotten from any other water-soluble pomade, even its classic brethren – flaking. I’ve gotten clumping from the classic hold, but never the flaking. As you can see above my left ear. (Yeah, I know the difference between dandruff and pomade flakes, so don’t try me!)

Usually, flaking with a product is either because of:

A) Using too much product.
B) The way the product reacts to moisture (water.)

This time around, it was from neither nor. I’ve applied this product in various ways – little by little, globs at a time, dry/damp/wet hair, all that jazz. Each and every time, resulted in flaking. To get rid of the flakes, means you’ll have to physically put your hands in your hair, and streak them through. A comb just won’t do the trick. Not a huge issue for me, but I know it’s a major concern for most cats.

Here’s a few notes, just incase some cats didn’t catch the differences between the classic and super-hold.

Notes:

– Both are equally malleable, classic being a bit stiffer.
– Super has a slight glossy finish. Classic is more matte.
– Super having a more of a flake issue, than the classic.
– Same great scent.
– Same price point.

Overall, even with the first time flaking, I actually enjoyed this product, even more so than the classic hold! The application and styling is a bit more to my liking. It’s really hard to describe it, but once you get the products in your hands/hair, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

This product is great alternative to some of the more pricier products on the market. Why? Since the product is stretchy, a little will go a long way, so you won’t have to use as much. Plus, you get 2oz more, than you would with the other competitors, that are around the same price point. So for you cats looking to save some money on a good water-soluble product, definitely take a look into Lone Star.

With the ever-growing market for pomade and brands popping up in every corner of the globe, it’s hard to keep up with all of the up and coming brands. Many of them prefer to stay comfortable in their small scenes, others take the risk to venture out to become apart of this dangerous world of pomade. And I say dangerous, because it’s much a bigger risk than the average pomade user realizes!

Unfortunately, more often than not, many of these up and coming brands get looked over by “serious” pomade users. Not only due to lack of reviews (I’m getting to em… ZING!) but also due to price points. For whatever reason, people can justify spending $20+ on a salon “quality” product from a company, but can’t spend more than $15 from an independent brand? Well, whatever you say!

But hey, what better way to ease into the scene, than getting a review by me? 😉

Lone Star Pomade happens to be one of those up and coming brands. Over the last 11 months, Chris Dallal spent time developing a water-soluble pomade that was able to cover bases that many pomades don’t; climate control and resistance to humidity. Right now, he’s offering a regular hold and a super hold. Both being able to hold up mohawks and pomps in Texas weather, you can only imagine how us California folks would do with this stuff!

Enough talk, onto the review!

Chris had sent me a sample of his regular hold, so the packaging is different from the actual product.

He’s gone the clean and simple white plastic tub route, with red, white, and blue detail and lettering. On the sample tub, the label on the cap reminded me of a baseball.

Unlike most, he went with a colorless product without an artificial scent. It’s a mix of new-school product with old-school, powdery scent. Something we haven’t seen in the water-soluble market, and definitely something I dig!

Scooping it out, I was surprised by its consistency… As we all know, most if not all water-soluble pomades feel like a semi-solid gel. This stuff however, has a gummy feel to it. The only other product I can think of, that is somewhat similar in terms of gumminess, is Grant’s Putty Pomade, except Grant’s has a fiber-y feel to it… In short, this stuff looks and feels like a thick rubber cement!

Don’t worry, it isn’t a rubber cement, it was just the easiest way to describe this stuff!

Due to its gummy properties, this stuff applies differently. Trying to apply it to dry hair, was nearly impossible. It would clump up, not allowing you to thoroughly spread it through your hair. Though this isn’t how I ever try to apply products to my hair, I know that some do, so I had to cover the bases.

I know a lot of guys usually apply pomade in their hair after a shower or as their hair is drying, and this product is made for just that. The wetness of your hair allows you to apply it with ease. It also helps give you that extra hold.

The gumminess is a major factor for this product; it makes styling feel as if you’re styling with a petrolatum based product, but with the hold of a water-soluble product. It also has enough hold for thick hair like mine or finer hair. Top it off with a classic scent, this stuff really is a great mix between new-school and old-school!

As I’ve said, styling with this stuff is as if you’re using a petrolatum based product. Meaning, you won’t have to worry about flat edges or not being able to get your hair bulbous. Take a look:

Now, in terms of sheen, there isn’t much. As with nearly all water-soluble gel-type pomades, you’re not gonna get any high sheen. But, it doesn’t dry completely matte, so you’ll get a bit of gloss, but not a whole lot.

Overall, I’m very surprised with this product! As I keep mentioning in this post, the mix of old-school and new-school is something that really makes this product stand out. Though there are cats who want that old-school feel with that new-school scent, there are those who want the exact opposite. Plus, the fact that it doesn’t remind me of another product, is a good thing!

Lone Star is definitely worth checking out, especially if you want a change from the usual water-soluble pomades. Believe me, it’s a change, and a good one at that! Head over to the online store here, to scoop some up.

Now, for those who don’t know, I was originally supposed to review Uppercut Deluxe quite a few months ago. But, with a large hole in the shipping envelope, the product was lost forever, and the jokes about the mailman/customs handler having good hair would run on for months! After patiently waiting for the right time, a replacement was shipped out from Down Under, and landed safely in my hands!

Ok, enough of the gibber-jabber, on to the review!

When I first saw this product, I remember seeing a white, plastic container. It was very much so like any of the other plastic containers that water-soluble products are stored in. This time around, we get (in my honest opinion) one of the ILLEST pomade tin designs on the market!

If this tin design ain’t killer, I don’t know what is!

The black base container with the red lid is a solid color combo. But, the image on the lid, is what really sets the packaging off!

The red, white and black of the image is printed on the tin. The background however, is left bare, which makes the image really pop! In the right light, the reflection from the bare tin sort of makes the image of the two boxers seem 3-D.

Twisting the lid off, I was expecting to see an orange-colored gel-pomade. (I could’ve sworn that was the original color.) But I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was root-beer colored! Sorry folks, that’s as far as the root-beer resemblance goes, as this stuff smells like vanilla. But hey, we’re not complaining!

Now, there’s been talk saying that this is one of the heaviest water-soluble pomades on the market. Not heavy as in real strong and thick, but heavy as in: it weighs your hair down. Which is something surprising to me, as other water-soluble pomades do the exact opposite.

The consistency feels a bit thicker and has a slightly stickier feel than the other water-soluble pomades in this market. After toying around with it and a few other water-soluble pomades, I started to see what people were talking about…

At first as I was applying it through my hair, it didn’t feel the way it was described. But as I was trying to style it, I started to see what they meant…

As most water-soluble pomades are, they aren’t the most malleable things on the planet. If you comb it flat, it’ll be flat. It’s a bit harder to style your pomp in a bulbous way. This pretty much goes for all water-soluble pomades… Uppercut Deluxe is no exception.

While it is a tad heavier on the hair than most water-soluble pomades, which does make styling with it slightly difficult, it doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. Take a look:

The weighing down of the hair is very miniscule. Most people, won’t notice a thing. The most you’ll notice is the more gel-ish finish you’ll get, after styling. By this, I’m referring to how the hairs on the side and back are separated, as if it were gelled. Damn, that’s tough to describe, hopefully you folks see what I’m talkin’ about!

The fact that this stuff doesn’t dry to a matte finish, will definitely catch the eye of water-soluble pomade lovers. A major gripe with water-soluble pomades that most folks have, is that they don’t have any sheen. As you can tell in the pic, it does leave the hair with a bit of gloss, which is a nice touch.

Overall, I dig this product. It’s a nice take on water-soluble pomades, especially since it comes from outside of the US! Unlike an unmentionable brand, this one doesn’t sit in Layrite’s shadow! The only drawback to this brand, is that it’s difficult for me to prescribe to people. Not because of its properties, but because it’s coming all the way from Australia! Fortunately, Johnny D’s Barbershop stocks this stuff, and I’m sure he’s more than willing to ship these out to cats around the US! The killer tin design is more than enough justification to have this pomade in your collection! Trust me folks, it’s that awesome!

The fine folks at Grant’s Golden Brand have been listening closely to customer feedback and worked hard to put out a product to please the masses. Not an easy feat, let me tell you! People wanted more hold, they gave em more hold!

Let’s see how different this stuff is from the original!

This time around, their limited edition Putty Pomade has a sticker label, rather than it being directly printed onto the container. Not complaining, as the color palette works nicely! *COUGH*Maketheseintostickers!*COUGH*

Opening it up, you see their classic golden pomade. Like “watered down honey” as I used to describe their original hold.

The scent is nearly the same as the original hold. A bit more faint, but not by much. For those who don’t know, it smells like almonds.

Now, this stuff LOOKS identical to their original recipe. But is it?

Scooping it out, you notice that it’s considerably thicker and has a bouncy feel to it. This stuff is a hybrid between their original formula and a new fiber ingredient, giving it a super strong hold, but still keeping it easy on the hair.

I can already tell you that this is the thickest water-soluble pomade on the market today.

Now, softening this stuff is tricky. As soon as you start to rub it in between your palms, it starts to “gum up,” and it’s almost as if you’re rubbing a gummy worm in your hands. The quick fix to this, is to pinch the globs, then continue rubbing it in. (No innuendo intended.)

Don’t worry, as soon as you’re done softening this stuff up and spreading it thoroughly in your palms, it’s easy street from here on out!

Running it through your hair is like any other product. Even though this stuff is THICK, it won’t leave your hair streaky. Which is a major issue with thicker products.

Styling with this new putty pomade is a breeze. It’ll give you all the hold you want and more. And you all know how easy it is, when it comes to styling with water-soluble pomade!

One thing I noticed, is that this stuff dries with a glossy sheen. Definitely a nice touch. Most, if not all water-soluble pomades dry to a matte finish. So finding one that’ll give you sheen, is very nice!

Now, there’s a catch… As you all experienced with any other water-soluble pomade, they harden. The stronger the hold, the harder it gets. It’s just the way it is. But this stuff, hardens the most! Fortunately, it’s not gonna leave you with a helmet like hairspray would. But, definitely harder than anything on the market.
Surprisingly, combing through this stuff after it dries, is amazing on its own.

Usually when you comb through a dried water-soluble pomade, your hair gets a little wispy. With this stuff, it leaves you with that premium hold, but leaving your hair soft, with a slight matte finish. So if you didn’t dig the harden finish with sheen, just comb through when it dries and you’ll still retain the amazing hold and have a clean matte finish. Not something you get with any other water-soluble product!

Overall, I gotta say I really dig this stuff! It’s not often you get a water-soluble pomade that has a sheen! Yes, it does harden quite a bit more than most, but I really can’t hate that sheen! It’s a bit harder to spread through your palms evenly, but when you do, you’re as good as gold.

If you haven’t entered my Grant’s Golden Brand Giveaway, DO IT! Any entries past 12:00am aka Tuesday, won’t be valid. So enter and win some of this cool stuff! If no one entered, you can best bet I’d be putting this pomade to use!

Even before I got the care package from Grant’s Golden Brand, I already had a giveaway with their products in mind. Uh, hello, you guys didn’t get the hints in my giveaway post???

– Americana.
– Pomade.
– Style.

Regardless, I wanted to do a giveaway showing support for the brand, as they’ve given me excellent customer service over a year ago, and continue to do so. But, as you all should know by now, there’s always a catch!!!

The water-soluble pomade market, is the hardest one to compete in. For one, its an expensive one for the customers to maintain. Two, there’s just a lot of brands out there competing with one another, making rather similar products, yet, the price points are different. It ranges anywhere from $4 to $36, depending on what you’re looking at. Luckily, I’ve got one of the cheapest, most accessible water-soluble pomades to review.

Monkey Brains is marketed towards the youth. Not only the product, being washable with simply just water, but in the product design. You don’t have skulls, which some kids and parents (surprisingly) are scared of. A lot of parents take the logos literally. So this is definitely easy on the square parents eyes. Oops I mean, the conservative… No, I meant squares… And hey, that’s fine! Being a parent myself, I’m not gonna buy my kid something that’s not age appropriate. Like Justin Bieber… Send him to Herbert The Pervert, and let’s move on!

Water-soluble hair products are something a lot of parents look for, when lookin’ to grease up their little monkeys (SEE WHAT I DID THERE!?) There’s a ton of parents looking for products to grease up their little greasers and hopefully, they aren’t stupid enough to ruin their kid’s hair with petrolatum based products. So, they gotta stick with the washable stuff. I mean, it’s expensive enough for us adults to keep buying pomade, it’s sure as hell not any easier for a parent!

Though this stuff is marketed towards the youth, it doesn’t mean that us adults can’t use it! Or does it? There’s been some whispers that this stuff is comparable to Layrite. Well, let’s see how much truth that hearsay holds…

As I mentioned, this is one of the most accessible pomades out there. No, not every barbershop stocks this. But Walgreens sure as hell does. And Walgreens, are a dime a dozen. Unless you live in a hick town in Alaska, surrounded by polarbears and poachers, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding this stuff.

Unlike the usual suspects we’re used to spotting, this stuff comes in a box! Being grown ass kids that we are, we love opening boxes and finding pomade inside. This isn’t any different! Well, except for the monkeys and all…

Obviously, being marketed towards kids, there’s a cartoon “grease monkey” on the cover. With a pompadour on top and a wrench in hand, this guy is obviously ready to roll! Rock and roll, that is… (Hey, this stuff is marketed towards kids, so I gotta be a little lively corny in this post!)

Opening the box up, you see the exact same logo on the box, but on a silver lid. This tub looks similar to La Bella. Well, very similar. Hey, nothing wrong with that. Until they make a pomade container, in a shape of an oversized comb, in which the pomade comes out of the teeth of the comb, so you can comb it straight into your hair from the container…….. I might need to copyright, trademark and patent this…

As soon as you open it up, you get a fresh whiff of flowers, while looking at its cool purple goop. One thing I definitely dig, is different colored pomades. It just gives the pomade a lot more character, as well as making sense of the scent. That was a weird sentence.

Scooping it out, I noticed that it’s considerably lighter than Layrite Super Hold. Of course, Super Hold is Layrite’s strongest hold, so this stuff may be more comparable to their regular hold. But since Super Hold is what I use, we’ll just have to compare it to that.

While being lighter in consistency than Super Hold, it doesn’t spread out too lightly. It spreads out just nicely, without turning to water. I can tell already, that this stuff will have a good hold!

Running it through is just as easy as any other water-soluble pomade out there. Just run it through, comb and style. Pretty simple, right? And that’s exactly how it is.

Styling with this, is just as easy as Layrite. Some of the other water-soluble pomades out there that I’ve tried, do not style well at all. Unless caked on, meaning more $$$ used. Grease Monkey however, styles just right with a rather “conservative” amount. Conservative being a couple of fingertips worth.

Not too shabby, eh?

Now, for the hundred-dollar question…

Is this stuff really comparable to Layrite?

Well folks…

The answer is, yes. It is comparable to Layrite.

It has a really good hold, especially when comparing it to Layrite’s Super Hold. While it doesn’t have the same scent as Layrite, it is rather enjoyable, and easy on the nose. While the ladies do love that vanilla scent from Layrite, I’m sure they won’t complain about this stuff!

Now, I’m not going to knock Layrite out of the stable, because I admire Donnie Hawley, his shop, and his products. But I can’t deny a good pomade when I see one!

Overall, I’m very impressed with Monkey Brain’s Grease Monkey pomade. While being marketed towards kids, it works perfectly fine for us adults, and definitely gets the job done. It doesn’t hurt that it’s less than $5, for a 4oz tub!!! So if you’re out of your usual pomade, head over to your local Walgreens or email Rebecca at Monkey Brains and place an order. You will not be disappointed!

Big thanks to Rebecca for this sample! We wouldn’t have been able to compare the two, without your generosity!

* For whatever reason, when I originally made this post on 10/20/2010, it didn’t publish. Well, 5 days later… Here’s my review for Cool Grease Pomade.

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Yesterday my lady looked up at me as we were on a walk and said “Your hair looks… Dry.” Yeah… I knew that, as I was using Layrite, since it’s my transition pomade, since it washes out. I looked at her and told her that I hope this new pomade isn’t the same, since it is also water based…

Well? Let’s check it out…

The packaging is a cool color coded plastic. The 30z little tubs, are little. It’s the same size as High Life, except they pack this stuff to the top. So as you open it up, you can’t smell it’s sweet scent until you take off the protective plastic cover, after screwing off the lid.
There are different colors from this brand, each one having it’s own characteristic and consistency and feel. Pretty cool, I must say. There is a black, white, blue, and green. I’m pretty sure there’s a green one, I can’t remember! Well, I chose the red one, after it being recommended by Anthony C. from Johnny D’s Barbershop.

Cool Grease

As soon as you take off the plastic cover, you get a whiff of that sweet fruity smell. Not too fruity, but just enough. Which is nice and different from the other water based pomades, which are usually Vanilla or Coconut scented. And as all the other water based pomades are, it has a very gel like consistency.

Looks like Jell-O, huh!?

Well, kind of.

Spreading it in my palms was easy and smooth. Unlike Layrite, which has a stickier feeling. Which isn’t a bad thing, but does this say something about it’s hold?

Slicking it through is simple. It coats evenly, as it has a light consistency. Maybe a little too light for my hair.

As it dries, it is a lot softer than Layrite or Grant’s. Good or bad, you decide. For my hair it’s a little too light. And since my hair is getting longer, it doesn’t have the hold my hair really needs. But for people with shorter or finer hair, this stuff would seem to really work out best.

All in all, this stuff is pretty cool. I do like the scent it has, but I need to probably go for either the white or black stuff, as they are the ones with stronger hold.

One way I see this stuff to be extremely useful, is to use it as a top coat ontop of Layrite. As Layrite doesn’t have the “Hy-Sheen” it’s label claims to have, this stuff would be a good top coat for it. As it too is water based, it wouldn’t break apart the Layrite, but work with it.
And using it that way, is a definite plus. At $20 for a 3oz tub, unless you have the means, you wouldn’t use this stuff generously as you would other pomades. But using it as a simple top coat with Layrite, it’s just the right amount. And matching the 7oz tub of Cool Grease with the 32oz tub of Layrite, is a match made in heaven.

Well, that’s all the different pomades I have for now. Maybe in a month or two I’ll be ordering a new batch of pomades to review… As there are a ton of different pomades out there.